Liberal internationalism has failed, but we can live in a multipolar world

Illustration by Gary Waters / Ikon Images In different but complementary and insightful ways, Robert D Kaplan, John Gray and Helen Thompson have made a persuasive case for a tragic future of global and regional struggles among great powers and lesser powers alike over security, resources, and values. If they are correct, and I think they are, then the project of liberal internationalism has failed for now and perhaps forever. Liberal internationalism entranced many elites and citizens in the West and the world three times, following three global conflicts - the two world wars and the Cold War. The promise…